DECORATING OUR CAMPUS FOR CHRISTMAS NOVEMBER 24

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1 Volume 52, Issue 11 November Euclid Street, Garden Grove, CA, G The first great missionary, Paul, gives some sweeping and challenging final instructions to his friends in Thessalonica. He says, Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. The best sermon I ever heard in my life was based on this passage. If only I had known I was going to be a pastor, I would have saved the notes! I don t remember one illustration or one significant point; all I know is that scripture was burned on my brain and I can never get it out of there. Not that I ve lived up to it with any sort of perfection; but my memory reminds me when I haven t. Let s examine those three instructions and one statement. Rejoice always: Always? That s a $100 word! Simple to understand but a challenge to live up to. Rejoicing doesn t always look the same on the outside. We can t be jumping for joy or skipping with every step during a major life tragedy. That would be more a sign of insanity! But in all of life s circumstances we can take a simple joy in knowing a few things deeply. Such as: 1) God s not finished yet, 2) there s still hope and 3) there s always a profound joy to be found in our salvation and eternity. Rejoicing isn t the absence of sorrow. It s having a longer-term perspective on life. Pray continually: There s a way to pray that it almost becomes so intertwined with your inner thought life that you almost can t distinguish the two. It s continually asking God for perspective, direction, patience, insight into what He s doing and wisdom on life as you face it. It takes time to develop; but it s a discipline that you ll probably never stray from once you have it. And, for the more structured personalities, time of regular & daily prayer will never hurt you. Give thanks in all circumstances. Again, we don t want to be fake in our expression of gratitude to God. But, gratitude gives birth to more gratitude in us. There s plenty of negative to focus on and any fool can identify it. It takes a disciplined mind to find gratitude. But I believe it s there. It s challenging, especially for those who can find the dark cloud in every silver lining. Why does Paul give these simple but challenging charges to his friends? Because, this is God s will for you. Hopefully, you ve surrendered your will for God s. If not, start practicing Paul s disciplines of joy, prayer and gratitude. You may change you mind and your heart. Be gracious, Pastor Dan ATTENTION CHURCH BOARD The next regular meeting of the Church Board will be on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. Remember, if you are not able to attend this meeting, call Debbie before 3:00 p.m. that day. Pastor needs to know before the meeting if he will have a quorum. DECORATING OUR CAMPUS FOR CHRISTMAS NOVEMBER 24 We will be decorating the foyer and the Sanctuary for Christmas beginning at 1:00 p.m. We can use all the help we can get. Teens, this is a great time to get Community Service hours! Refreshments will be served and we can fellowship with one another, after we are done decorating. Please see Michelle Ruth if you have any questions. Thanks!

2 NMI (NAZARENE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL) Basically, I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Dennis Harmon. I am the new president of the Missionary Council. I have a really great council to work with and I am looking forward to doing some great things that were already in the works. Rob North will be speaking during our 10:15 service on November 18. He and his wife, Cindy, currently serve at Africa Nazarene University (ANU), in Nairobi, Kenya. Rob works with Work and Witness teams, volunteers, visiting professors and professionals coming to lend a hand at ANU. For over 15 years Rob has been sharing the exciting things happening around the world, through missions, to districts and local churches. See and hear the sounds of life in other parts of the world. Let s give him a warm GGNaz welcome. On the 25th of November we have planned a Walk-a-thon for the children at the Native American Christian Academy. This will be on our church grounds, following Worship Service. There will be of course the walk but also hotdogs, and a Bake Sale. I pray for your support as God continues to lead me into new areas of service. I have loved serving on the Missions Council; now leads me one step further. The Roots of NMI The Women s Missionary Society or WMS (now NMI), was officially recognized as an auxiliary organization of the Church of the Nazarene in 1915 at the fourth General Assembly. It was recommended that there be an organization in each local church to increase knowledge and interest in missions by prayer, by obtaining special speakers, and by keeping in touch with the missionaries and to cooperate with the local Church Board in raising their allotments for missions. Through the years, the name of the ministry has changed. It has been: 1928 Woman s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS), 1952 Nazarene Foreign Missionary Society (reflecting the introduction of men, youth, and children into the organization), 1964 Nazarene World Missionary Society, 1980 Nazarene World Mission Society (reflecting the international aspect), and in 2001(NMI), Nazarene Missions International. The purpose of NMI shall be to mobilize the Church of the Nazarene in missions through 1) praying, 2) giving, 3) educating, and 4) engaging children and youth. NMI is a direct line for missions in the local church and has often been described as the face of mission in the local church. NMI is dedicated to the cause of world evangelization. While other departments also support missions, it is the distinctive task of NMI to bring each mission area into the local church in such a vital way that every Nazarene will be glad to be a part of global outreach, spreading the good news of full salvation (holiness) to the ends of the earth. NMI provides the infrastructure, the spiritual dynamic vehicle, whereby the local church is mobilized in mission. (History of Church of the Nazarene NMI) Dennis Harmon, Your NMI President Jobe Bilbao Shirley McHargue Jennifer Redwine Dianne Cross Bronwyn Almy Donna Harmon Debbie Kindell Mike & Pat McHargue Charles & Teresa Stauffer Martin & Maria Salisbury ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL Kellie Almy has been putting a lot of time and effort into our adult Sunday School activities. Most of these have been open to any adult at GGNaz. October s event was a Church Directory Scavenger Hunt, followed by snacks and table games. It was a lot of fun. She has also arranged a First Sunday Lunch after Church Our next event is a Progressive Dinner on November 3 (4:00 8:00 p.m.) at various houses, ending with dessert at Marie Callendar s. Please bring long warm socks and stocking hats for the homeless. Join us for a great time! Our next group lunch will be at Carolina s Italian Restaurant (12045 Chapman Ave, 92840) in Garden Grove) on November 4, after Worship. Back to Basics: Wednesday, November 7. Also, on the14th, 28th and December 5. Prior to the study, a light meal will be served for all age groups.

3 N AZARENE Y OUTH M INISTRIES I NTERNATIONAL (NYI) As I write this, I am reflecting over the past year. On this day a year ago, I was in a car accident that broke three bones in the wrist of my dominate hand, which required a plate and seven screws to fix. So I sit and look at my scar and thinking of all the people for whom I am thankful. First, I am thankful for my youth group and their parents who went easy on me with activities because I was down an arm, and those who showed up at the accident scene so I wouldn t be alone. Second, I m thankful for my mom who flew down to take care of me in the 48 hours post-surgery. Third, I m thankful for my Pastor who made me realize my limits and wouldn t let me do too much. Who showed up and prayed over me, and made sure I had people to sit with me. Fourth, I m thankful for the people closest to me who opened pill bottles, cut food, drove me to appointments and advocated on my behalf when I couldn t think straight. Last, but certainly not least, I m thankful for my church family who prayed over me, checked in on me, and mothered me when my mom had to go home. It isn t always easy to ask for help, frankly, I find it very humbling. This last year I was humbled and through that experience God showered his love and peace over me through all of you. Thank you. As 1 Chronicles 16:34 says; Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. I give thanks to God for each of you, you are a blessing in my life and the lives of each other. This Thanksgiving season I want to encourage you to keep loving on people by praying over them. November brings the second Missions Collide to our teens, which is happening on Sunday the 4th. This year we are going to Highland Ave. Church in Rancho Cucamonga to have the pleasure of hearing a missionary from Africa Nazarene University speak. This will be a great time for our students to see what God is doing around the world and partner with God on this mission. On the 17th we are partnering with the Children s Department for a movie night. There will be a meal provided before the movie and dessert after. Parents are more than welcome to participate in this event too. Since Thanksgiving is on the 22nd, there will be no Wednesday night services happening on the 21st. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and spending time with your families. Be thankful for them. Blessings! Pastor Krystal WOMEN S MINISTRIES Enter My gates with thanksgiving and My courts with praise. A thankful heart is a joyful heart, and this is what I want for you. When you neglect the sacrifices of thanksgiving, your soul suffers. Many of My children who live in impoverished nations are more joyful than Christians in rich countries with materials in abundance. Even the greatest blessings can fail to bring Joy, unless they are received with gratitude. I am training you to thank Me not only for obvious blessings, but also for situations you would never have chosen a wayward child or spouse, loss of health, home, or employment. This is counterintuitive thankfulness, and it is possible only to the extent that you trust Me at a deep level. It is also a matter of self-discipline; willing yourself to thank Me even when your circumstances are screaming at you to find a way out. Though it is wise to look for ways to improve your situation, you cannot force My hand or My timing. Just keep coming into My presence with thanksgiving. Your persistent thankfulness may actually provide the long-awaited key I will use to unlock major difficulties in your life. Giving thanks to Me can open doors in ways that transcend your understanding. - From Jesus Today by Sarah Young Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the L is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5) Attention Secret Pals Those of you participating in Secret Pals, please remember to give gifts, say prayers and send cards to your Secret Pal, during the holidays. Please contact me, Michelle Ruth, if you have any questions. Join Our Women s Book Club December 15 at 11:00 a.m., in the GGNaz Fellowship Hall. Pot Luck lunch is: Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Corn on the Cob, Biscuits and Apple pie! We will have an ornament exchange and a Christmas sock exchange, please see me if you have any questions. Thanks, Michelle Ruth, Women s Ministries President

4 C HILDREN S M INISTRIES Thanksgiving is less than a month away. Have you been thinking about the things that you are thankful for. Are you thanking God for what he has given you or are you thinking about, eating a huge turkey dinner with your family. Remember to give God all the glory and thanks for your family, your friends, and for all that you have, for without Him we are nothing, we can do nothing and we have nothing. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT Try Our New Wednesday Night Children s Bible Study Come join us on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m., where you can learn about Jesus and His love in a fun and loving environment. Volunteer Teachers Needed We are always looking for volunteer teachers so if you love children and would like to help teach Sunday School and/or Children s Church, we still have spaces left.please get with me (Michelle Ruth) if you are interested. Many thanks to those who have already volunteered. The children love what they have learned from you. Join Us for Sunday School Come join us for Sunday school: Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Donna Alves will be teaching Kindergarten through 2 nd grade, and Michelle Ruth will be teaching 3 rd through 6 th grade. Attend Our Dinner / Movie Night To kick off the holiday season, Children s Ministries will be joining Youth Ministries for a Dinner and Movie Night at GGNaz on Satur- day, November 17 at 5:00 p.m. Please bring some friends! Come to This District Event Sunday, November 18 CRASH. Children from our District churches will be at the Cerritos Multinational Church of Nazarene. The event starts at 2:00 p.m.; we will be leaving GGNaz promptly at 1:15 p.m. Please contact me if you have any questions; also to RSVP so we have enough transportation. CRASH is Anaheim District s quarterly children s activity and Children s Worship event). - Michelle Ruth Children s Ministries GGNAZ O N - C AMPUS R EGULAR S CHEDULE STAFF AND MINISTRY LEADERS Rev. Dan Keeton... Lead Pastor: pastordan@ggnaz.org Rev. Krystal Wigginton... Associate Pastor and NYI Ministries (Nazarene Youth International): kawigginton@yahoo.com Pastor Tai Asoau... The Huddle Up Ministries Pastor Andrew Habib... Interim Arabic Ministries Rev. Noé Guevara... Hispanic Ministries Debbie Kindell...Office Manager: Michelle Ruth... Kids, Women s, and Worship Ministries: women@ggnaz.org Jeff Vankeuren... SDMI Chairman (Sunday School Discipleship Ministries International): carrunfast@hotmail.com Dennis Harmon... NMI President, (DHARMON2@socal.rr.com) Steve Iliff... Church Board Officer/Treasurer David Kelley... Church Board Officer/Secretary Heart to Heart Ministries Blanca Craig... blancarosamft@gmail.com Delores Kelley... GRANNYDEE1@cox.net Sunday Sunday School... 9:00 a.m. Spanish Study... 9:00 a.m. Morning Worship... 10:15 a.m. Spanish Worship... 10:15 a.m. Arabic Worship... 12:00 noon Huddle Worship... 3:00 p.m. Monday Academia Bíblica... 6:00 p.m. Tuesday Spanish Prayer... 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Adults, teens, and Kids Bible Studies... 6:30 p.m. Huddle Bible Study... 7:00 p.m. Thursday Academia Bíblica... 6:00 p.m. Worship Music... 7:00 p.m. Friday Spanish Study... 7:00 p.m. Huddle Rehearsal... 7:00 p.m. Saturday Huddle Prayer... 7:00 a.m.

5 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Collide District teens event 3:30 PM (leave GGNaz) Thanksgiving Lunches for the Progressive Dinner Homeless 9:30 AM 4:00 8:00 PM 4. Adult S. S. Lunch Carolina s in G.G. NMI Council Meeting CA GENERAL (After Worship) 7:00 PM ELECTION Light Meal 5:30-6:25 PM NEW BIBLE STUDY Back to Basics" 6:30 PM Time Change on 4th (make the change before bed VETERANS DAY Church Board Children s and Observed Meeting 7:00 PM Youth Movie Night 5:00 PM Missionary Worship Team No Wednesday THANKSGIVING Decorate Campus Rob North 10:15 AM Rehearsal Bible studies due to for Christmas 6:OO PM Thanksgiving 1:00 PM CRASH for Children 1:15 PM Walk A Thon (After Worship This calendar reflects special events for the month as well as new studies, group meetings, or services.